Steven Gerrard's injury woes surfaced again yesterday with the news that he has been sent for an X-ray on a thigh problem. The Liverpool and England midfielder has only recently recovered from the hernia operation he underwent after pulling out of the World Cup Finals.
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Gerrard: Another blow
(AlexLivesey/Allsport) |
Gerrard, 22, suffered a groin injury on the last day of the Premiership season and was forced to miss out on England's Far East adventure. That was only the latest setback to hit the injury-prone midfielder.
Anfield boss Gerard Houllier will study the results of yesterday's tests before deciding how to handle this latest puzzle in the brilliant youngster's career.
Liverpool have the option of bringing forward the signing of Senegal World Cup star Salif Diao from Sedan if the problem looks serious. Houllier said: 'We will decide what to do after the scan. I don't think it is major, but we will wait and see.
'If it becomes a recurring problem with him then we will bring in Diao earlier.' Gerrard will definitely miss tonight's friendly against Lazio at Anfield but could be fit to figure in the Real Madrid Centenary tournament this weekend if he is given the all-clear but the return of his old stop-start schedule is a worry.
Houllier admits he is drawing blanks in his bid for a new wide player, having failed in his bid to sign Leeds' Lee Bowyer. Blackburn have not encouraged his approaches for Damien Duff, although he insists he has other options.
Houllier said: 'We are looking at some players who could reinforce the team. It is about quality and not quantity. There are a couple of players I would like to bring to the club.'
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